Rita Wilson discovered her father’s hidden past, including a secret family in Bulgaria, only after his death in 2009. She revealed this shocking information during an episode of the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?.
Wilson’s father had a tragic history that he never shared with her or her siblings. He was married to Alice, who died just three days after giving birth to their son Emil. Emil lived for only four months before passing away due to complications.
As of midday Tuesday, Rita expressed disbelief at the family secrets she uncovered. “I still can’t get over that. He never said anything to us,” she stated.
Rita reflected on how these revelations changed her perception of her father. “I think of my dad, all of those years, celebrating all those birthdays, and knowing that he had a child born on Dec. 26, Emil, who passed away,” she said.
Wilson herself has faced significant challenges in life. In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. She later described her experience with cancer as transformative: “Cancer was terrifying, but now I see it as a gift. It gave me an extra lease on life.”
Beyond her acting career—where she produced the highest-grossing romcom of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding—Rita has also pursued music since 2012. Her sixth studio album, Sound of a Woman, is set to release on May 1.
This newfound knowledge about her father’s past adds another layer to Rita’s already rich narrative in Hollywood and beyond. As she continues to navigate her music career and personal life with husband Tom Hanks and their two sons, Chet and Truman Hanks, these family secrets will likely shape her future endeavors.
